Channing Tatum’s ‘Gambit’ Movie Is Back On Again

When 20th Century Fox announced plans to make a “Gambit” movie, Marvel fans and X-men fanatics were ecstatic over the news especially with Channing Tatum set to play the titular role.

With cameras scheduled to begin rolling on Gambit in just a few months, The Wrap reports that the deal between 20th Century Fox and the film’s star (and co-producer) is in jeopardy, making it quite possible that Tatum leaves the project.

While there’s no definite word why the actor considers such move, it pegs to have some effect on the film’s future.

One thing that needed figuring out was the extent of Tatum’s involvement in the X-Men universe.

In an interview last year, Tatum discussed how he planned to portray the character on the big screen: “Gambit was always like the woman-loving, cigarette-smoking, drinking guy”. Tatum, Reid Carolin, Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg are producing. The film struggled to secure a director for a long time before Rupert Wyatt (the great Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes and the dire The Gambler) came on board, with the project only kept alive by the drive of its star.

Fox has had a recent history of allowing previously unthinkable movies go through production.

Executives were hopeful that the same magic could be recreated for the “Gambit” movie, but if recent rumors surrounding Tatum are to be believed, it could be a challenge. The Cajun thief was played by Taylor Kitsch in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine“. It’s a commitment that could theoretically last more than a decade.

No reasons for his intention to leave have been cited.

Gambit hits theaters on October 7th, 2016.

According to TheWrap, “Gambit” has been a passion project for the actor and he did indeed hype up the film during the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con.